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turbo timer on a fd

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Old 09-10-05, 07:09 PM
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turbo timer on a fd

would you suggest a turbo timer or just run it in cool air. and if so how long for both
Old 09-10-05, 07:19 PM
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I have only two suggestions:

1) save your money and use it on useful mods

2) SEARCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this topic has been discussed many times
Old 09-10-05, 07:21 PM
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These turbos are water cooled. Really no need for a turbo timer. Just wait a solid 5 minutes of easy driving before pushing into the boost, and don't boost hard in the last couple minutes before shutting down, and that's all.

Dave
Old 09-10-05, 10:47 PM
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Yeah, waste of money. But if you are the type who thinks it looks really cool for the car to still be running after you leave it with keys in hand (irregardless of running the car with no air passing over the radiator), then turbo timers are for you!!

I had one, and yanked it after a year. It serves no purpose if you ease off on it before parking.
Old 09-11-05, 12:27 AM
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From what I have been lead to understand is that the TT is used to let all of the excess oil drain out of the turbos after the car has been driven, not so much to let them cool down. I have had 2 STi's and the first thing I did on both is take them to a performance shop to have a TT installed right after I drove off the dealer lot. Maybe it's a wasted hundred-fifty bucks, but still makes me feel like I'm doing the turbos some good.

And as for the car running as you walk away, I've never even had a comment about it from anyone that wasnt in my car when I took the keys out of the ignition, so if that is your reason for wanting one, might want to save the cash.
Old 09-11-05, 01:49 AM
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The turbo timer in an FD can be thought of as a rather expensive fan mod. That's all that I use it for....running fans after shut down. I bought the thing before I knew any better
Old 09-11-05, 02:46 AM
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The only thing a TT is good for is letting the engine sit up idling and get hotter and hotter because of no air flow through the radiator and oil coolers.
Old 09-11-05, 02:50 AM
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Originally Posted by papsmagu
I have only two suggestions:

1) save your money and use it on useful mods

2) SEARCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this topic has been discussed many times

YES!! Turbo timers are for the extremely lazy.... Just stay out of boost when coming to the end of your journey or let the car sit at idle to let th oil cool!!!! Search is your friend!!!!!
Old 09-11-05, 03:32 AM
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Another use is to simply run the e-fans for some time after you shut the engine off.. Turn off engine, key back on, press AC and the e-fans come on and run until the timer runs out. Running the engine is pretty pointless but having the fans run for 10 minutes is probably good for keeping under-hood temps down...
Old 09-11-05, 06:45 AM
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Personally I do the same as a lot of the others who've replied...take it easy as you near your destination (and when you first start out) and then sit in the car for a couple of minutes listening to tunes to pass the time.

Also if possible pop the bonnet (hood) and let the heat out as it'll save your hoses in the long run.
Old 09-11-05, 04:09 PM
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Originally Posted by b00st3d
From what I have been lead to understand is that the TT is used to let all of the excess oil drain out of the turbos. Maybe it's a wasted hundred-fifty bucks, but still makes me feel like I'm doing the turbos some good.
I love the internet.............

So, if i understand you correctly, your turbo(s) store oil & after you park & let it idle for a while it will drain out all the excess oil???? RIGHT.

I've got a bridge for sale in N.Y. Or would you be interested in a "Vortex generator" to vastly increase you mileage?

If you run under boost for any length of time the turbo housing will be extremely hot(glow red hot). Off boost the flow of oil & coolant will drop the temp down.

If you stop the flow of oil & coolant (shut your car off) the oil in your turbo could boil & coke up the oil passage. This is why, in the early 80's when turbos were uncommon, turbo bearings (bushings really) & seals would fail.

Turbo timers are a waste of money. No if's and's, or but's............

If under normal driving you haven't boosted & the water temps are down to normal just shut the car down.

Now if you have been driving under boost for for an extend period of time. Drive the last 5-10 minutes without boosting & let your coolant temps stabilize. Then just shut the car down.

Last edited by Sled Driver; 09-11-05 at 04:14 PM.
Old 09-11-05, 06:31 PM
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thank you for all the info.i have searched the forums and i read that half the owners say to get a TT and the other half say just run it under the turbo for a few miles. thanks again i really appreciate it.

Last edited by alfy05; 09-11-05 at 06:54 PM. Reason: adding
Old 09-11-05, 08:17 PM
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Originally Posted by PVerdieck
Yeah, waste of money. But if you are the type who thinks it looks really cool for the car to still be running after you leave it with keys in hand (irregardless of running the car with no air passing over the radiator), then turbo timers are for you!!

I had one, and yanked it after a year. It serves no purpose if you ease off on it before parking.
Irregardless originated in dialectal American speech in the early 20th century. Its fairly widespread use in speech called it to the attention of usage commentators as early as 1927. The most frequently repeated remark about it is that "there is no such word." There is such a word, however. It is still used primarily in speech, although it can be found from time to time in edited prose. Its reputation has not risen over the years, and it is still a long way from general acceptance. Use regardless instead.

-Merriam Webster Online

Sorry, I really hate when people say "irregardless".
Old 09-11-05, 08:41 PM
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I let the engine warm up completely before I start off and I drive the last 2 miles or so (3-4 minutes) without boosting and staying under 3k RPM. Once parked I idle the engine for 10-15 seconds then shut it off. I considered a turbo timer for novelty sake but it probably wont happen.

If you follow the steps above (something I learned from many FD owners before me) you will have a happy and long living turbo system. Turbo timers in some cars are great, as stated due to oil coking but since ours are watercooled as well as oilcooled its really a non-issue.

~Kris
Old 09-11-05, 08:50 PM
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I used my turbo timer to keep the electrical system on, not the motor, after I shut the motor down i leave my timer set for 5 min and turn the key to IGN, allow the turbo timer to come on, and leave my a/c on with the fan switch on 3 which allows both fans to run. I basically have a fan mod without hacking any wires
Old 09-11-05, 09:07 PM
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You guys are all missing the point of having a turbo timer - it plays neat tunes and has great flashing lights! My car came with one and I'd never remove it, just because of this (though I never let it run the engine)! :P
Old 09-12-05, 10:23 AM
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Originally Posted by nopistons94
I basically have a fan mod without hacking any wires
You might want to read up on the "Fan Mod". Sounds like your missing the boat..........

You don't "hack" any wires. Unless your definition of "hacking" is running a wire from there to a switch & a wire from the switch to ground.

There is a single black wire with a spade connector located near the ECU. All you do is ground that wire to enable the "Fan Mod".

While not a big deal, but your technic has the entire electrical system "on". The "Fan Mod" only has power running to the fans. Less current draw.

With the Key "on" (engine running or not) you ground the wire for at least 2 minutes (the fans will immediately turn on). Then shut the engine off. After 30 seconds you remove the ground from the wire. This arms & starts the timer

Your fans will run for 10 minutes.

Plus, as noted above, any time you ground the wire with the Key "on" (engine running) the fans will run. No need to "fool" the system by pressing the A/C button.

This is useful in stop & go traffic to keep your temps stable instead of cycling hot, while you wait (pray) for the fans to kick on. All it takes is for the relays to stick & you have the potential for a overheat.

Also you can check the operation of the fan system by popping the hood, turning the key on & grounding the wire. You can see if "BOTH" fans are running. Press the A/C button & the fans will switch to high speed.
Old 09-12-05, 11:28 AM
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I use my TT for warm up as well as shut down. In the mornings before I leave, I start the car, set the timer for 10 mins., go back inside and finish getting ready. When I'm ready to leave, the engine is to operating temps and the car is nice and cool (summer) or warm (winter).
Old 09-12-05, 11:31 AM
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Hello everyone!

If you look at this picture from the Manual to the RX7.



From this picture you can asume the turbos are oilcooled. If my asumption are correct the TT makes a whole lot of difference. When oil is warm it has a sticky tendence and if you never let youre turbos be circulated with cooler oil the lifetime of them will be radical decreased.
Old 09-12-05, 11:34 AM
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Originally Posted by Hebbe
From this picture you can asume the turbos are oilcooled. If my asumption are correct the TT makes a whole lot of difference. When oil is warm it has a sticky tendence and if you never let youre turbos be circulated with cooler oil the lifetime of them will be radical decreased.
ALL TURBOS ARE OILCOOLED!

Letting your car sit idling for several minutes IS A BAD IDEA, unless you like heatsoaking the bejesus out of the car. A TT is useless on a watercooled turbo, unless you like hitting 15 psi of boost sliding into your parking spot.

The moral of the story is don't drive like a complete fucknut and you will never need a TT.
Old 09-12-05, 11:42 AM
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30s to 1min is a really good idea.
But as you say. If you don't drive it so hard you don't have to worry.. But incase a TT is a good idea.
Old 09-12-05, 11:52 AM
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Originally Posted by Hebbe
Hello everyone!

From this picture you can asume the turbos are oilcooled. If my asumption are correct the TT makes a whole lot of difference. When oil is warm it has a sticky tendence and if you never let youre turbos be circulated with cooler oil the lifetime of them will be radical decreased.
There not oil "cooled" there oil "lubricated"

That's like saying the excentric shaft & rotors are oil "cooled"

The byproduct of oil circulation is cooling. The oil cooler is there to maintain the operating temp range of the oil, not the engine.

The turbo housing is water "cooled" to increase the life of the oil seals.

Post a pic of the coolant system................

Last edited by Sled Driver; 09-12-05 at 11:56 AM.
Old 09-12-05, 12:45 PM
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And on that very diagram you can see the water entrance/exit that makes this whole turbo timer thing a waste.
https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...d=131180&stc=1

Lets remember two other important bits of hard data:
1) our turbos rarely, if ever, die due to oil coking in the bearings. And synthetic oil almost guarantees it will never happen.

2) Idling the car always drives up both coolant and oil temperature.


#1 shows why a turbo timer doesn't help. #2 shows why it's not even a good idea.
Attached Thumbnails turbo timer on a fd-oil-water-turbo.jpg  
Old 09-12-05, 01:27 PM
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Originally Posted by nopistons94
I basically have a fan mod without hacking any wires
already stated...


I need a turbo timer that runs the fans only for 5minutes and then starts the car for 30sec, then shuts completely down. <--water jacket life saver. My temps heat soak to around 220F, and a quick flush of cooled uh...coolant thru the motor drops them to 185F

Last edited by dubulup; 09-12-05 at 01:34 PM.
Old 09-12-05, 01:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Hebbe
30s to 1min is a really good idea.
But as you say. If you don't drive it so hard you don't have to worry.. But incase a TT is a good idea.

A turbo timer is NEVER a good idea. Its a stupid toy for kids that don't know any better.


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